Automatic locking device.



J. H. GURTON.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVIG- Ann-loulou Hui nu 1o, ma.

1,047.787. Patented De0.17,1912.

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7%; i f y lAT'roRNEvs J.H.GORTON, AUTQMATIG LOOKING rumor;r pgnwmlox mima un 10.11.91?.

1,047,787.` v Patented Dec. 17, 1912. a SEHEN-SHEET a.

' 1 extensively throughout the JOHN H. GORTON OF UNITED, PENNSYLVANIA.

.AUTOMATIC LOCKNG DEVICE.

noemer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

Application filed May 1G, 1912. Serial No. 696,415.

To all wlmi/2. 2'25 may concern Be it known that l, Joan H. Gourou, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at United, in` the county' of lNestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Automatic Locking Devices, of which the following is a specitication, reference being had therein'to the acco1npanying drawing.

This invention relates to an automatic locking device for self dumping cages used coal mines for dumping and discharging coal into chutes or suitable receptacles located at the top of a mine shaft.

My invention aims to furnish a tipping cage or platform with positive and reliable means, as hereinafter set forth, for prevent- 'loss of life, and delay transverse 'shaft 3a.

ing the cage or platform from tipping during its movement in a mine shaft, thereby preventing the destruction of property, the

in successfully operating a mine.

My invention further aims to accomplish the' above results by a mechanical construe'- tion that is simple, durable, inexpensive to the purposes for which it is intended.

My invention will be better understood when reference is had to the drawing,

"wherein like numerals denote correspondingv parts throughout the which Figure l is a front elevation of a tipping cage in accordance with my invention. Fig.

2 k1s a side elevation of the saine. Fig. 3 is several views; in

a plan of the automatic locking device showing the saine in a locked position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device in an unlocked position, and Fig. 5 a perspective view of the detached locking member.

The reference numerals 1 denote vertical oppositely disposed main guides of a mine Shaft, and slidably mounted between these guides is a cage 2 arrangedto tilt upon a The tilting cage 2 has,v a transverse beam 3, a roof or deangularly disposed frames 5. a 6, hoistingcable 7 attached to the alter alie,

flector 4, iixed axle beam l'3, and a revoluble flanged wheel 8' mounted upon the end of the fixed lxle (i.

Arranged at the. top of a mine shaft are tipping guides 9 adapted to receive lthe wheels and graduallytip the ,cage 2, whereby matter upon the cage 2 will be discharged of the arms 14 into a chute, bin or other receptacles near the mouth of the shaft. To prevent the cage from tipping while being raised 'or loweredin the shaft, the ends of the axle 6 are provided with straps 10. having shoes 11 that engage the main guide 1 and prevent the tilting edge orr side o'f the cage from tipping during` the movement of the cagein the mine shaft.- In order that the cage can tip when at the top of the shaft, the main guides 1 are cut away or provided with gaps l2 to provide clearance for the shoes 11 whereby't-he wheels 8 can move in the tipping guides 9.

The above construction referred to in detail by the reference numerals 1 to 12 inclusive is of the ordinary and well known type at present used, and this construction has been set forth in order that the application of my automatic locking device to the same can be rfully understood.

The transverse beam 3 in proximity to and at each sideof its transverse center isprovided with a vertically disposed pivot-. pin 13, and upon which are pivotallyy mounted L-shaped lockingmembers. `The outer arm of each of said members is indicated at 14 and the inner arm by the reference character 14a. The inner arms of said members are termed keeper ends and have kthe pivot pins 13 extending therethrough in proximity to Where said arms merge into the arms 14. The arms 14 are disposed in an opposite direction with respect to each other while the arms 142t extend over the beam 3 and axle 6. TheI free end of each terminates in an angularly disposed protuberanre l5. The protuberances 15 extend toward each other and are adapted to engage a vertically disposed lug 1G carried centrally of the upper face of the axle 6. The arms 14 extend in proxiinity to the main guides 1 free ends provided with anti-friction rollers 1S, best shown'in Figs. B-to 5 of the drawings. vThe arms 14'L1 inwardly with respect to the protuberances 15 are connected together by a coiled retractile spring 17 which constitutes means for maintaining the pro` tuberances 15 in engagementwith lugs 16.

The arms 14 are connected by coiled retrac-4 tile springs 19 to angle brackets 2O carried by the top of the beam 3, and said springs 19 cooperate with the springs 17 in ing the protuberances with the lugs 16. Y r

retainy i l5 in engagement Secured to the sides of the main guides 1, at the upper end of the mine shaft and at a point contiguous to the tipping guides 9 are tripping 4members 21 adapted to be engaged by the rollers 18. y

During the movement of the cage .2 in the mine shaft, the protuberances of the arms 11 are in engagement with the lug 16 of the fixed axle 6, consequently said axle is locked relatively to the beam 3 and the frames 5 that support said axle cannot swing relatively to the main guides of the cage and allow the cage to tip. As the cage ascends in the mine shaft it will come to a point in proximity to the tipping guides 9, and the rollers 18 Will ride into engagement with the tripping members 21, under such circumstances the locking members are shifted upon ltheir pivots and the arms 14a 4moved away from each other whereby the protuberances 15 will clear the lugs 16, releasing the.

axle 6 and allowing the frames 5 to move as guided by the wheels 8 traveling -in the guides 9.

From the foregoing it wilLbe observed that the tipping portion of a mine cage is locked until such time that the cage can be safely tilted. lIhe lug 16 can be easily placed upon the axle 6 at present in use and the remainder of the locking mechanism can be readily installed. The locking device removes all liability of the cage accidentally tipping consequently the employees, horses, material and other matter used in a mine can be safely raised and lowered in a mine shaft.

While in the drawing there is illustrated a preferred .embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements can be varied or changed, as to the size, proportion and manner of assemblage, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. In an automatic locking device, the combination with a tipping mine cage, main guide therefor, tipping guides, an axle carried by the tipping portions of said cage,

' wheels supported by said axle and adapted to enter said tippii .guides and a beam forming a part of sai cage, of locking memy bers pivotally mounted upon said beam, a

lng carried by said axle and adapted to be engaged by said locking members to hold the tilting portion of said cage locked relatively to the beam of said cage, and trip ing members carried by the main guides o said cage for actuating said locking members to release said lug and allow the tilting portion of said cage to tip.

2. In an automatic locking device, the combination with a mine cage having a tipping portion, main guides for said cage, tipping guides, an axle carried by the tipping portion of said cage, wheels carried by said axles and adapted to ride in said tipping guides, and a beam forming part of said cage, of locking members arranged upon said beam and adapted to hold said axle relatively to said beam, and means carried by said main guides and adapted to be engaged by said locking members to release said axle.

3. In an automatic locking device for tipping mine cages, an axle carried by thetipping portion of said cage and adapted to move relatively to the stationary portion of said cage, spring held pivotally mounted locking members carried by the stationary portion of said cage and adapted` to hold said axle in a locked position relatively to the stationary portion of said cage, and means located at the upper end of a mine shaft and adapted to be engaged by said locking members to release the tipping portion of said cage.

4. The combination with a mine cage having a tipping portion, main guides for said cage, an axle carried by the tipping portion of said cage, wheels carried by the end of the said axle, and tipping guides for said wheels,

ported by said cage, a lug carried by said .axle vand adapted to be engaged by the inner ends of said locking members to lock the axle relatively to said cage, and tripping members carried by said main guides and adapted to be engaged by the outer ends of said locking members to shift said members and release the lug of said axle whereby the tipping portion of said cage can be tipped.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in the presence of twomwitnesses.

JOHN H. eoarorn 

